Kashmir to Kanyakumari all for health
The objective of this expedition, which started from 12 November 2021 to 04 December 2021, was to raise awareness and urge people to take up cycling for a healthier lifestyle. Cycling in a group would multiply the impact
A GROUP OF HYDERABAD CYCLISTS GO AROUND THE COUNTRY, PROVING THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
For the first time in India, 13 cyclists from Hyderabad belonging to different age groups and professions went on an expedition, the Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) ride. The long-distance ride spanned 23 days, covering 24 cities and 3,700 km, which averaged 170 km daily. The objective of this expedition, which started from 12 November 2021 to 04 December 2021, was to raise awareness and urge people to take up cycling for a healthier lifestyle.
Ravinder Nandanoori, who led the team, tells us that though he’d been planning such a trip for a long time. “In earlier rides, we’ve been spreading the awareness of cycling, successfully promoting the sport in and around Hyderabad,” shares Ravinder.
“Now, we’d like to take it to other cities. I got this idea when I heard about a cyclist who, earlier this year, had ridden from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to promote cycling. I imagined cycling in a group would multiply the impact.”
THE THRILL AND CHALLENGES OF A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
To start the ride, the team of 13 cyclists, including Ankur Rawat, Ravinder Nandanoori, Srinivas Ramaraju, Dr Srinivas Yalamanchili, Commander Karthikeyan, Jayant Kumar Juneja, Abhimanyu, Laxmi Shree, Hrithik Melvani, Balraam Arya, Shiva Swaroop, Purvi Chauhan and Sairam, and a 3member support team flew down to Srinagar, even as their cycles got transported via road.
26-year-old Purvi Chauhan, who works for an IT company, describes the expedition as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity even as she recalls the challenges during the trip. “The first phase of the ride from Srinagar to Delhi was extremely difficult because of the chilly weather as we started the ride in minus degrees. Also, the surface of the ghat (mountainous) roads wasn’t even and the elevation added to the challenge,” she says.
Purvi also explains that inconsistent weather also had a bearing on their expedition. “At times, it’d rain and in some areas, it’d be chilly too. So getting used to different climatic conditions posed a major challenge. After reaching south, however, the temperatures got hotter,” Purvi says, adding headwinds also made their ride difficult at some places.
FIT FOR A PURPOSE
For energy, the cyclists carried energy bars and glucose (electrolytes) but they also indulged in local cuisines at various stopovers. The 3-member support team (led by Prasad Tekumalla) took care of food and accommodation by coordinating with local groups in advance.
Apparently, the team received training for two months to prepare for the expedition as agility to improve stamina and core body strengthening play vital roles in long-distance rides. Besides, they also received basic life support training on how to deal with accidents during the expedition. Ankur Rawat, who works in the Army at AOC (Secunderabad) and believes the harder you prepare the easier the expedition becomes, reiterated how the training was instrumental in successfully completing the ride. According to him, the K2K ride was proof of how the fitness training paid off for them. Even so, Ankur, who’s scaled Mt Everest, says riding non-stop for hours was a challenge, but thankfully he overcame it by talking to his fellow riders. “I think K2K has been the longest ride for me so far and the most fascinating aspect was riding in groups; that’s the key to long distance riding,” says the 37-year-old adding that the experience was liberating for him.
Then speaking about riding in a team always being motivating, he recollects having constant chats with each other, which he says kept them alert.
ALL FOR THIS
Laxmi Shree, a homemaker, believes the expedition has made her a more confident person. However, the 39-year-old’s family wasn’t too kicked about her heading for the expedition, asking instead, “What do you get out of it?”
She’d replied that she’ll answer that question when she gets back. “Now having successfully completed the ride, I feel so positive and confident about myself. I could experience different landscapes in the country — from mountain terrains to bump rides — even as the ride gave me the opportunity to see the country from close quarters, an opportunity I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I’m a changed person now. And all those who asked me questions before my ride are now feeling proud of me,” reveals Laxmi, adding nevertheless, that they all had bruises,
cuts, etc., with some of them falling down a few times too, though never losing the spirit of the ride.
Added to the sights of the country, the diversity of the people in the group also added to her understanding people better.
“Also, it kept everyone as a cohesive unit and our bonding and interactions ensured we complete the ride, so it’s a team effort and without every member’s support, this wouldn’t have been possible,” she insists.
Laxmi hopes to send her children
to be part of such expeditions in the future.
Interestingly, despite the pandemic fear in the air, none of the cyclists were affected by COVID19. “That’s because cycling increases lung capacity and makes lungs stronger and healthy,” says an excited Ravinder.